AN experienced GP says a lack of protection against coronavirus is putting Swindon doctors at risk.

This comes as the number of people who have died in the UK after testing positive for coronavirus rose by 48 to 281. At 9am on Sunday, 78,340 people had been tested in the UK. The number of infections rose by 635 in 24 hours to 5,683.

Peter Swinyard, who has run the Phoenix Surgery in Toothill for three decades, believes the creaking NHS is totally unprepared to deal with the crisis.

He told the Adver: “We’ve had an almost complete lack of personal protective equipment. 111 have sent in a few patients to us which shouldn’t have been done because they were clearly displaying symptoms. By sending them in, it’s putting us at risk.

“We’ve had to change the way we’re operating, we’re predominantly using phone consultations and hoping to get video consultations up and running soon.”

But Doctor Swinyard insists that the surgery is making the effort to keep staff and patients safe.

He added: “We’re working very hard to keep everyone safe. But a few people that come in make it difficult. Almost nobody reads the signs warning to keep their distance from the receptionists. They need their space. Without the receptionists, we have no surgery.

“I had a mask on Tuesday, a very low-spec mask and it kept the patients safe from me rather than me from the patients. But doctors catch illnesses all the time and some die from those, that’s always been the case.”

Dr Swinyard has additional concerns over the potential spread of the virus in his surgery.

“I’m not terribly impressed with the PPE at the moment,” he told the Adver: “We’ve not had the chance to be tested yet. We don’t know if we have had or currently have the virus. A lot of doctors, like me, are old and fat and are at risk.

“At this surgery we have three doctors in the building. One of those is heavily pregnant and shouldn’t even be working. We’re all at risk from patients. But we’re doing what we can and we’re trying to provide the best care.”

In one case, a family of three were sent to the surgery after phoning 111 and telling them of their symptoms.

“111 got that wrong,” Dr Swinyard said: “As soon as they entered the room it was abundantly clear that they had coronavirus. All three of them had symptoms so I checked them all to make sure it wasn’t serious and sent them home and told them to isolate immediately.

“It was an evening meeting so there was no one other patients at the surgery but we had to seal that room up as soon as they had left and deep clean it. The figures you see on the news are just from tests done in the hospital. That’s the only place where they’re being done at the moment.

“I’m hoping the tests will be made widely available soon because only then will it allow us to see what’s really happening.”

Despite everything surrounding coronavirus, Dr Swinyard was keen to stress that they can’t ignore other illnesses.

He added: “We mustn’t forget that people are still getting sick from things they would always get sick from. It’s not just coronavirus. We must keep going.

“We are deferring a lot of patients’ routine stuff but only if it’s safe to do so. We take a view of the patients safety on an individual basis. We’re trying hard to maintain the best standards we can.”

Dr Swinyard is due to retire but says he has to have an open mind when it come to reconsidering that due to the current crisis.

Park Lane Practice, which manages the Phoenix Surgery, was contacted but couldn’t be reached. NHS England has been approached for comment but had not replied at time of publishing.

Sarah-Jane Rossiter decided to self-isolate for two weeks after strep-throat developed into flu-like symptoms. She urged others to take precautions and wondered why she could not get tested for coronavirus.

The 46-year-old from the Malmesbury area said: “I called 111 when I started showing symptoms and they said someone would be over to test me within 48 hours.

“Two days came and went but nobody tested me and still hasn’t. It feels like I’ve been left in limbo and I was quite scared.

“The fear of the unknown and not knowing what to expect is huge and hard to describe. I know the NHS has a lot to deal with but having a definite result would give me peace of mind.

“A part of me is hoping that I have it and can come out the other side of it stronger, or in fear that hoping that I don’t have it because I don’t want to feel worse than I do now.

“I’ve been resting, eating healthily and sitting out in the garden to get some sunshine over the last two weeks – and Netflix has taken a hammering.

“I’ve asked delivery drivers to leave the shopping at the end of the drive, then I pick it up when they’ve gone. I still feel rough but I’m doing everything I can to look after myself and protect those around me.

“My advice would be to not be afraid to self-isolate, even if you don’t display symptoms - you may be a silent carrier. Don’t go to big gatherings and be careful who you come into contact with.

“By looking after yourself, you’re looking after everyone else because you’re stopping the spread of the virus.”